Jeannie Atkins (bottom left), faculty adviser for Kappa Tau Alpha journalism honor society at the University of Mississippi, congratulates the new inductees. They are (row 1, from left) , Mary Stanton, Jennifer Wilson, Sharon White, Emily Roland and Miriam Taylor; (row 2) Darrel Jordan, Gjoko Dungevski, Katherine Williamson, Margaret Burge, Anna Davis and Casey Rains; and (row 3) Charles Robinson, Kylea Boutwell, Peter Cleary, Keith Havins, Cain Madden, Haley Brooks and Caitlin Adams. Photo by Mark Dolan.
OXFORD, Miss. – Twenty-three University of Mississippi students have been inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha, a college honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication.
Jeanni Atkins, Kappa Tau Alpha adviser, said she was honored to induct the “very talented and high achieving journalism students.”“On the whole, I feel this group will continue to grow and do well in the profession,” said Atkins, associate professor of journalism in the Meek School of Journalism and New Media. “They are eager learners, and I truly see a bright future for all of them,”
Founded at the University of Missouri in 1910, KTA is the seventh-oldest national honor society and the only one in journalism/mass communication recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.
Membership is by invitation only and is based on excellence in academic work. Only those students who rank in the top 10 percent of their class are considered. The Greek letters “kappa, tau, alpha” stand for knowledge, truth and accuracy. The organization celebrated its 100th anniversary March 2010.
Caitlin Adams of Smithville received the undergraduate top scholar award. Oxford resident Keith Havins, who was named top graduate scholar, said he was surprised when he learned he would be inducted into the society.
“It was amazing to receive the KTA key, which is emblematic of academic worth and high standards,” Havins said. “I am also very appreciative of the graduate faculty. I think they’ve done a wonderful job.”
KTA initiates received a certificate of membership and a key, which may be worn as a pin or as a charm.
The 2012 undergraduate inductees are: Caitlin Elizabeth Adams of Smithville, Kylea Grace Boutwell of Oxford, Haley Elizabeth Brooks of Oxford, Margaret Morrow Burge of Birmingham, Ala., Anna Elizabeth Davis of Brandon, Ashley Lauren Lance of Franklin, Tenn., Elizabeth Myhr Lynch of Brookhaven, Cavin Cain Madden of Natchez, Austin Kent Miller of Grayson, Ga., Casey Lynn Rains of Pinckneyville, Ill., Charles Hale Robinson of Carriere, Emily Teresa Roland of Meridian, Katherine Elizabeth Saucier of Pascagoula, Miriam O’Neal Taylor of Jackson, Kristie Nicole Warino of Kiln and Katherine Christy Williamson of Oxford.
The 2012 graduate inductees are: Peter Cleary of Oxford, Gjoko Dungevski of the Republic of Macedonia, William Keith Havins of Oxford, Darrel J. Jordan of Oxford, Mary F. Stanton of New Albany, Sharon A. White of Holly Springs and Jennifer K. Wilson of Fulton.
For more information on the Meek School of Journalism and New Media, visit http://meek.olemiss.edu/.